Blitzburgh Bloghttp://blitzburghblog.com
A Pittsburgh Steelers BlogTue, 12 Dec 2017 02:45:48 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.5Steelers Hang on to Beat the Ravenshttp://blitzburghblog.com/2017-article/steelers-hang-on-to-beat-the-ravens.html
Tue, 12 Dec 2017 02:45:48 +0000http://blitzburghblog.com/?p=1403In week 14 the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Baltimore Ravens in a game that had major playoff implications for both teams. The Steelers won 39-38 and stretched their winning streak to eight games. This was the fourth game out of the Steelers last five that was decided by a Chris Boswell field goal with under […]]]>

In week 14 the Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the Baltimore Ravens in a game that had major playoff implications for both teams. The Steelers won 39-38 and stretched their winning streak to eight games. This was the fourth game out of the Steelers last five that was decided by a Chris Boswell field goal with under two minutes left. Oh, and did I mention, the Steelers became the first team in the AFC to clinch their division. They successfully defended the AFC North division title. Even when the Steelers aren’t playing their best football they find ways to win. They should try their lucky streak by going to play top quality casino games at Royal Vegas. Here are my gut reactions.

Defenseless

The Ravens are rivals because they are always competitive when they play the Steelers. By the end of the third quarter the Ravens had opened up a 31-20 lead against the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Keep in mind, the Ravens had the 30th ranked offense coming into the game. Yet, they were able to score with ease against a Steelers defense that was playing their first game of the year without star linebacker Ryan Shazier.

Shazier sustained a potentially career threatening injury in week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals, and while he was missed, there were glaring problems with the defensive unit that was on the field against the Ravens. The tackling fell apart completely, allowing Ravens running back, Alex Collins to rack up 120 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries as well as 46 yards receiving on two receptions. Also evident throughout the game was Sean Spence not being the answer to replacing Shazier. He played 34 snaps against the Ravens and finished with one tackle.

Backing up Backers

To make matters worse, the Steelers defense was unable to keep their gap integrity. There are a few culprits that have suffered at this all year, but even some of the Steelers most reliable players fell victim to this poor play. Bud Dupree rushes up field on every play like he’s pass rushing, making his run defense responsibility essentially an afterthought. It got so bad that when James Harrison made an appearance he wasn’t manning his normal right outside linebacker position, rather he was playing left outside linebacker in replacement of Dupree.

The Other Corner

Joe Haden’s time frame to return is unknown. But he’s sorely missed. Right now, the Steelers are using a combination of Coty Sensabaugh and rookie Cameron Sutton as Haden’s replacement. So far, the combination hasn’t been very effective. After Sensabaugh was beaten by the Raven’s Chris Moore for a 30-yard touchdown reception his play became much more conservative. He began giving some cushion in man coverage so he wouldn’t get beat deep and making sure he tackled his man rather than make a play on the ball.

Sutton, a rookie who has only played 53 snaps due to injury, had a more aggressive, ball-hawking style of play, but struggled making tackles in the open field. It looked like he was still adjusting to the speed and strength of NFL football. The defense has a week to figure out how it’s going to play the other elite AFC team, the New England Patriots, in what most likely amounts to a playoff game for the number one seed in the AFC playoffs.

The Killer B’s

While the defense suffered until late in the game, the killer b’s put up absurd numbers against an elite Ravens defense. Ben Roethlisberger became the first quarterback in NFL history to record three games of 500 plus passing yards. He finished with 506 yards and two touchdowns and no interceptions. Le’Veon Bell only had 13 carries for 48 yards but managed two rushing touchdowns. He added another nine receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown in the passing game.

Then there was Antonio Brown. He was targeted 18 times, had 11 receptions for 213 yards and while he didn’t score a touchdown, he had the reception that put Boswell in range for his fourth, game-winning field goal. The trio led the Steelers to 545 yards of offense. Even more promising was that the offense was 12 for 18 on third down conversions and three for four in the red zone. They were extremely proficient against a playoff level defense.

]]>Steelers’ Keys to Victoryhttp://blitzburghblog.com/2017-article/steelers-keys-to-victory.html
Sun, 03 Dec 2017 19:43:31 +0000http://blitzburghblog.com/?p=1400PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 26: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks for a receiver during an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers on November 26, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) The week 13 Pittsburgh Steelers are a much […]]]>

PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 26: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) looks for a receiver during an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers on November 26, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The week 13 Pittsburgh Steelers are a much different team than they were in week five. At that point, They were criticized and labeled an eight win team, nine at best. Ben Roethlisberger faced criticism by many who said he’s washed up at 36. They called Antonio Brown a locker room cancer over an emotional outburst that targeted a water cooler. They declared it was time to trade Brown and Le’Veon Bell for players who weren’t selfish. The Steelers, unlike some fans, never panicked and have reeled off six straight wins. Consequently, the Steelers currently hold the top spot in the AFC and are looking for more. The website freebets.org has the Steelers highly favored to defeat the Bengals, although they expect it to be low-scoring affair.

Prime time loves the Pittsburgh Steelers, who play the Cincinnati Bengals this Monday night. It’s the third of four straight games they Steelers play under the lights, and features a divisional opponent looking to derail their winning streak. The Steelers beat the Bengals 29-14 last month, and look to sweep the season series, but there’s more at stake. A win keeps them atop the AFC and just about guarantees a division title, but it won’t be easy. The Bengals would love nothing more than to wreck the Steelers momentum, while the Steelers look to end their misery. Either way, just throw out the records in this one because the Steelers are going hunting in prime time. The week 13 Pittsburgh Steelers keys to victory shows how they will bag their prey.

When the Steelers Have The Ball

The Pittsburgh Steelers offense is finally here after a sluggish start. They have balance, quick strike capabilities, and a number two receiver in JuJu Smith-Schuster, who’s reliable and explosive. More importantly however, the redzone offense has greatly improved over the last few weeks. The Steelers have scored nine redzone touchdowns over the last three games, equaling the total from the first eight. This coincides with Roethlisberger’s return to form. The Steelers head to Cincinnati, in another prime time matchup, looking for their seventh straight win. Executing these week 13 Pittsburgh Steelers offensive keys to victory will help ensure they are successful.

Protect Ben Roethlisberger

As Roethlisberger goes, so goes the Steelers offense, trending up since the fourth quarter of the Colts game. He has thrown 14 touchdowns against five picks since his five interception game in week five. Roethlisberger has a passer rating of around 100 over the same period of time, throwing for 279.8 yards per game. Roethlisberger looks to continue his winning ways against the Bengals, and improve his career record against them to 21-7. The Bengals in turn are looking to add to their 50 sacks of Roethlisberger.

Todd Haley and the offensive line need to ensure that Roethlisberger stays upright throughout the game. Getting rid of the ball quickly is paramount. Haley’s game plan has to focus on keeping the Bengals off balance and on their heels. It’d be wise to utilize the no-huddle to wear down the Bengals defensive front, pounding them with Bell in between quick passes. Getting Roethlisberger into a rhythm early on is crucial to winning this divisional game.

Success begins upfront, especially in the AFC North, where he who wins the trench wars wins the game. First, Maurkice Pouncey and the linehas to do a better job leading Bell to daylight. Bell’s had to work hard lately to get his yardage, putting the Steelers behind the chains on third down. He is at his best when he’s hesitating to set up defenders, not waiting for a hole to open up. That is often the difference lately between a three yard struggle and a six yard burst.

Secondly, the line must repeat their previous performance against the Bengals, keeping Roethlisberger clean. Pressure leads to turnovers. Roethlisberger, in seven losses to the Bengals, has 14 interceptions while being sacked 19 times. Conversely, he only has 13 interceptions while being sacked just 31 times in 20 wins. The bottom line is that the Steelers chances of winning increases with each play that ends with Roethlisberger on his feet.

When the Bengals Have the Ball

The Steelers defense ranks fourth in points given up and in total yards allowed. They give up just 17.5 points and just over 180 yards passing per game. Despite a few hiccups and key injuries, Keith Butler‘s unit carried the team during the first eight games. Despite the success, the defense has a few chinks in its armor that the Bengals want to exploit. They have the weapons, but can Andy Dalton feed them before Stephon Tuitt and Cam Heyward get to him? The week 13 Pittsburgh Steelers defensive keys to victory detail what they must do to shut the Bengals down.

The Steelers Must Pressure Andy Dalton

Dalton isn’t the quarterback he was a few years ago, but still possesses a great arm. Part of his problem is a reduction in accuracy that comes from playing behind the league’s worst offensive line. Dalton’s time in the pocket has been uncomfortable at best. He’s spent most of the season running for his life and picking himself off the ground. When he’s had time, he’s been too skiddish to take advantage of it, hearing footsteps and rushing his throws. Despite the constant harassment, Dalton has managed to toss 18 touchdown passes, meaning he’s still capable of the big play. The Steelers need to keep the heat on Dalton, much like week seven when they sacked him four times. The less he is able to get the ball to A.J. Green, the better off the defense is.

Tackle Properly and Eliminate Big Plays

Over aggressiveness has been the defense’s Achilles heel this season, leading to missed tackles and big plays. They’ve cleaned the issue up for the most part, but it tends to creep up at the most inopportune times. Over aggressiveness has led seven touchdowns of 40 plus yards given up this season. The defense must remain focused and disciplined because Green and Joe Mixon, among others, will burn them. The Bengals have nothing to lose and will let it all hang out. The Steelers defense must stay within themselves and play as a unit. Artie Burns, who’s gotten burned a few times in the last several weeks, for blown assignments, needs to play smarter. The linebackers need to maintain their gaps and make tackles.

Conclusion

There is no reason the Steelers shouldn’t be 10-2 when they leave Cincinnati. They’re superior on both sides of the ball, and have the chance to just about wrap up the division. The Steelers thrive on Monday Night Football, so look for them to play with intensity, purpose and efficiency. There’s something about the national spotlight that brings out the best in the Steelers. Unfortunately for the Bengals, they are about to find that out.

James Harrison was called on for a “random” PED test this morning, as he explained on Facebook [96.1 Kiss]. Also “randomly” selected were Clay Matthews, Julius Peppers, and Mike Neal. Interestingly, each of these players is on the defensive side of the ball, and each one has made their name by tackling quarterbacks. Must be a coincidence that no pass-catching tight ends were selected.

Here’s the crux of the issue: Ever since Al-Jazeera America, an independent news source with no real history of NFL inside information, reported that Harrison might be connected to PEDs, Dear Leader Goodell has been just itching to grill him about it. Back in June, Harrison obliged to conduct an interview under a few conditions, notably that the interview would be held at his house and that the Commissioner must be present [SI].

Roger Goodell will never go into James Harrison’s home, and Harrison knows that. It’s either an ambush (unlikely) or worse, he might see Harrison being a father to his two young sons which might make him seem human or something. Goodell simply can’t have that, lest he might develop a conscience about repeatedly targeting the Steeler linebacker.

So that interview never happened. And now the NFL says they will suspend the players involved on August 26th if they don’t interview before then.

Never mind that the original Al Jazeera article was dubious to begin with. Never mind that Harrison already offered to host an interview about it months ago. Never mind that Harrison doesn’t have a history of PED use. Nevermind that Harrison is a fan of the multi lotto online lottery.

Roger Goodell is on a witch hunt. He has already decided who is guilty of what, and he won’t rest until the players he doesn’t like pay for it.

]]>How To Protect Your Head When Playing American Footballhttp://blitzburghblog.com/2017-article/how-to-protect-your-head-when-playing-american-football.html
Sat, 21 Jan 2017 19:47:53 +0000http://blitzburghblog.com/?p=1335

After ferocious hits on the gridiron, some players may suffer concussions which may render them unable to play for a period of time or worse still, leave them completely unable to play for the rest of their lifetime.

If you read football news, you will know that cases of concussions are common occurrences in this game and they greatly vary in their severity. Occasionally, they don’t even need contact for them to occur, many of us don’t know that our brains freely float in our skulls and in events of quick motion followed by a sudden stop, the brain can bounce. No single remedy exists for bringing a player back to the gridiron safely due to the concussions’ varying nature. On top of all this, it’s not possible to see concussions on a CT scan or on an MRI scan. According to research, chances of a football player getting head injuries subsequently increases after he has suffered the first concussion.

Proper head protection in the field entails a number of small details which are very essential in getting your head out of harm’s way. Besides the advice given, proper accessories need to be purchased by a player so that they are adequately prepared for any impacts on the football field. This is not only about concussions, they are many injuries that a player can suffer if they lack adequate protection for the head.

Below are essential football accessories for optimum head protection;

The Football Helmet

This refers to the protective equipment worn over the heads of football players. The main components of this accessory are a hard shell built out of plastic and having a thick padding in the interior with a facemask and a chinstrap. Beyond all benefits that a football helmet accords a player on the gridiron, protection against concussions is the most important. The brain of the player is protected when they are met with impact as they collide with opponents or in the events when they fall down. The thick padding featured in the helmet’s interior plays the role of a cushioning system which prevents a player from receiving impact directly. Also during the moment of impact the chinstrap is very much crucial in keeping the helmet on.

Other injuries you protect yourself against by wearing a football helmet include injuries to your eyes, facial fractures and penetration injuries.

The Football Visor

Our second item in the bid to efficiently protect our heads against any injuries is the football visor. The visor is that piece of curved plastic attached to the masks of players covering their eyes. Visors for football such as SHOC visor give a player many benefits and they include:

Protection to the eyes

This is the main function of the visors. They help by offering protection against injuries resulting to the eyes such as striking of the eyes by fingers, the feet and the ball.

Improvement of vision

Improvement of vision by visors happens in the following ways;

By acting as a light filter – Visors which are tinted help in the filtering out of bright rays of sunlight in a similar way to how sunglasses work. When they are worn by players who are especially are light sensitive, this is a great addition on their gear.

Vision correction – There are visors which are prescribed for players with less than perfect vision. Their function is to allow them to properly see without the need for contact lenses, glasses or even corrective lenses.

Hiding the eyes

When a player wears tinted football visors, opponents are unlikely to see his eyes. This can prove advantageous but it can also pose as a safety risk. There is always a need to have a look at a player’s eyes when providing first aid in event of an injury in order to ascertain their condition.

The Football Facemask

The last item on our list is the football facemask and this refers to the part of the helmet directly covering the face of a player. This accessory offers the player great protection as it’s usually built from metal covered with either plastic or rubber.

Facemasks greatly vary and all this is dependent upon each wearer and his needs. The following are benefits of a facemask.

For protection – The main function is according protection to the player.

For improvement of vision – Improves vision against stadium lights and bright sunlight.

For expression – Players can decide to wear particular facemasks in order to express themselves.

]]>By what criteria you need to choose a bookmaker?http://blitzburghblog.com/2016-articles/by-what-criteria-you-need-to-choose-a-bookmaker.html
Mon, 31 Oct 2016 17:45:29 +0000http://blitzburghblog.com/?p=1327Choosing a bookmaker – a very important step for the beginner- gambler. Because the places itself in which you will make bets, depends on how successful your predictions will be. Therefore, try to figure out what criteria should be guided primarily by choosing the bookmaker for sports betting. Reliability. Before you start betting on sports, […]]]>

Choosing a bookmaker – a very important step for the beginner- gambler. Because the places itself in which you will make bets, depends on how successful your predictions will be. Therefore, try to figure out what criteria should be guided primarily by choosing the bookmaker for sports betting.

Reliability. Before you start betting on sports, you need to view the ranking of best bookmakers and choose the office, which is in your opinion the most reliable and high quality. To determine the degree of reliability can be the presence of licenses to conduct such business. Also on the bookmaker site should always be several different contact information (email, phone, Skype and so on). You can also ask technical support. In a good online office, you do not have to wait for a response more than a couple hours.

The values ​​of the coefficients. Be sure to review the rules of sports betting. Ratio should not change in the starting bookmaker bid. Otherwise, along with the movement across the line bookmaker will change the size of your potential winnings. You should also pay attention to the presence in the line of an increasing number of events. The higher the scattering of the competition, presented at the bookmaker, the easier it to bet on sports.

Money transactions. It is important to be able to use to transfer funds to the account of the bookie office and on the contrary a greater number of payment systems. Also note that not always bookmakers pay out funds to the same payment system, in which they take it.

Minimum deposit and withdrawal amount. If the maximum withdrawal per day should have less than 500 USD or minimum deposit higher than 50 USD – you should refuse to work with such bookie office.

Thus, the choice of bookmaker for regular sports betting – complicated. But if you use all of our criteria and selection, you will find the best institution for your gambling needs.

]]>Big Deal: Save $25 on ALL Ticket Network Ordershttp://blitzburghblog.com/uncategorized/big-deal-save-25-on-all-ticket-network-orders.html
http://blitzburghblog.com/uncategorized/big-deal-save-25-on-all-ticket-network-orders.html#respondWed, 29 Jun 2016 16:03:41 +0000http://blitzburghblog.com/uncategorized/big-deal-save-25-on-all-ticket-network-orders.html/The 4th of July weekend is coming quickly upon us and our friends at Ticket Network are running a special promotion to celebrate our Independence Day! Use promo code USA25OFF to take $25 on all orders over $150.00*. If you can’t save the world from an alien extinction this 4th of July, at least you can save some […]]]>

The 4th of July weekend is coming quickly upon us and our friends at Ticket Network are running a special promotion to celebrate our Independence Day! Use promo code USA25OFF to take $25 on all orders over $150.00*.

If you can’t save the world from an alien extinction this 4th of July, at least you can save some serious cash on your tickets!

This discount cannot be combined with any other offers. Discount does not apply to delivery, service fees, or applicable taxes. Offer expires Friday July 1, 2016 at 11:59 pm ET.

]]>http://blitzburghblog.com/uncategorized/big-deal-save-25-on-all-ticket-network-orders.html/feed0Save 5% on Finals Tickets with Promo Code “TSD5”http://blitzburghblog.com/news/save-5-on-finals-tickets-with-promo-code-tsd5.html
http://blitzburghblog.com/news/save-5-on-finals-tickets-with-promo-code-tsd5.html#respondWed, 08 Jun 2016 16:10:53 +0000http://blitzburghblog.com/uncategorized/save-5-on-finals-tickets-with-promo-code-tsd5.html/A week from now both the NBA and NHL seasons may very well be over and a champion crowned. But as of today, there are games to be played which means you still have a chance to catch some of the action live! Finals tickets never come cheap, but today we’ve got a promo code that […]]]>

A week from now both the NBA and NHL seasons may very well be over and a champion crowned. But as of today, there are games to be played which means you still have a chance to catch some of the action live! Finals tickets never come cheap, but today we’ve got a promo code that will save you some significant cash. Use promo code “TSD5” at Ticket Network and you’ll save 5% off your order.

If the Pens, Sharks, Cavs, or Warriors aren’t your thing, you can still use the code to save 5% on MLB tickets, Copa America tickets, Concerts, and other events. If you were planning on buying tickets to any event this summer, now’s a great time to lock it in and save 5%. The promo code is good through 6/20/16.

COMING OUT OF MY BLOGGING HOLE TO BE SAD NOW. HEATH MILLER IS RETIRING.

This was a surprise for everyone, I think. There was a rumor that the Steelers might cut him to save some cap space, but without a clear heir apparent and with his play minimally declining, I thought that was a dumb rumor. But now it doesn’t matter! The Steelers are without their 11-year tight end.

Let’s talk about tight ends for a hot second. Tight ends in today’s NFL are garbage. Every big name tight end is just a receiver who makes less money. When the Steelers complete a pass, some lazy broadcaster says, “There aren’t your dad’s Steelers!”

Well Heath Miller is your dad’s tight end. I am aware of the innuendo. Fight me.

A tight end is supposed to be a flexible player who can stay on the line and block or run short routes as an extra passing option. Sound familiar? That’s Heath Miller. He never went for the glory, because he never needed to. His contributions helped his team win. He was just as eager to block for a running back, be it Willie Parker, Gary Russell, or Le’Veon Bell, as he was to run a quick slant route to get four yards and a quarter of an inch on 3rd & 4. Heck, when Ben Roethlisberger throws an interception, it’s probably Miller making the tackle on the return.

Miller is, in my mind, the epitome of how a tight end should play football. It’s a position that is catering more and more to annoying showboats like Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham, but I will go to my grave believing Heath Miller is a better tight end than any of them.

Now the Steelers are faced with a glaring hole on the starting offense. Jesse James was fine last year, but no better than fine. Matt Spaeth is… still around. But Miller was an important cog, both as a pass catcher and a run blocker, and that’s two jobs that one person will be hard pressed to take up.

Man. Heath was my favorite player. I just hope that by retiring at 33 he gets to keep his health going forward.

]]>Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin – Few Are Betterhttp://blitzburghblog.com/2016-articles/pittsburgh-steelers-head-coach-mike-tomlin-few-are-better.html
Tue, 16 Feb 2016 05:30:31 +0000http://blitzburghblog.com/?p=1290He is the only head coach in the NFL with nine or more years head coaching experience that has never been fired nor had a losing season, and only one of his current peers has been to and won more Super Bowls. Yet for some Pittsburgh Steelers fans, it seems that no matter what Mike […]]]>

He is the only head coach in the NFL with nine or more years head coaching experience that has never been fired nor had a losing season, and only one of his current peers has been to and won more Super Bowls. Yet for some Pittsburgh Steelers fans, it seems that no matter what Mike Tomlin accomplishes it is not quite good enough.

Perhaps Steeler fans are more critical and have greater expectations than other football fans as they believe that it’s their birthright to be in the playoffs and contend for a Super Bowl every year.

There are times, I grant you, that it appears that Tomlin went to the Les Miles’ school of game clock mis-management. Perhaps of even greater concern with Tomlin’s coaching is the propensity of which the Steelers lose to far inferior teams.

Some of the more memorable upset losses were to a 1-6 New York Jets team in 2007, a 1-11 Cleveland team in 2009, to the Browns in 2012 when they were 2-8, and losing to Oakland in 2012 and 2013 when the Raiders finished both seasons with a 4-12 record. In 2014, the Steelers lost a 1-8 New York Jets team and to a Tampa Bay squad that would only win two games that year. The loss to a 4-10 Baltimore team this year that was without their starting quarterback could have cost the Steelers a postseason berth had it not been for Buffalo upsetting the New York Jets the final week of the season.

So how has Tomlin managed to avoid having a losing season unlike all of his experienced contemporaries?

Perhaps Tomlin’s greatest coaching strength is getting his back-up players to buy into “the next man up philosophy.” Steeler fans have heard Tomlin say that and “the standard is the standard,” repeatedly throughout his coaching career.

The Steelers have been able to withstand injuries the past few seasons to stars such as Ben Roethlisberger, Maurkice Pouncey, and LeVeon Bell and still play well enough to win games and make the playoffs. A great deal of credit for that has to go to Tomlin.

Steeler fans may complain Tomlin’s coaching, but in looking around the NFL, there aren’t many head coaches producing better results than Tomlin. If you compare team-by-team and coach-by-coach this is clearly bore out.

O’Brien, Gruden, and Zimmer have led their teams to the playoffs but none has won a playoff game. So now we’re down to 19 other teams and coaches.

Rex Ryan (Buffalo) had consecutive losing seasons with the NY Jets after making it to the AFC Championship two years in a row. Ryan was let go by the Jets.

Mike Mularkey (Tennessee) has not won anything and has an 18-39 record as head coach. Jason Garrett in Dallas has led the Cowboys only once to the playoffs in his five full seasons and that was the only year the Cowboys under Garrett had a winning record.

Chip Kelly, now with San Francisco, was fired by the Eagles before the season even ended. Jack Del Rio (Oakland) has had only three winning seasons and taken teams to the playoffs only twice in his 10 years as an NFL head coach.

Chuck Pagano of the Indianapolis Colts, who like Tomlin, has never had a losing season. However, Pagano’s head coaching tenure with the Colts has only been for four seasons compared to Tomlin’s nine with the Steelers. Pagano has yet to lead a team to the Super Bowl.

Bruce Arians (Arizona) is highly thought of as a coach and has compiled an impressive 43-17 record in his four seasons as an NFL head coach. Like Pagano, Arians has yet to lead a team to the Super Bowl.

Looking now to those coaches that have coached in a Super Bowl, Jim Caldwell (Detroit) has not had nearly the success that Tomlin has. Caldwell led the Indianapolis Colts to Super Bowl XLIV but lost to New Orleans. Of Caldwell’s five seasons as a head coach, two of them were losing ones.

Jeff Fisher, (St. Louis) is a fine coach with 20 years of head coaching experience, and has taken the Tennessee Titans to the Super Bowl. However, Fisher also has nine losing seasons as part of his coaching resume. Edge to Tomlin.

Andy Reid (Kansas City), while with the Philadelphia Eagles, led them to four consecutive NFC Championship games. The Eagles won only once and in Super Bowl XXXIX against New England displayed terrible clock management skills late in the game and let much of the clock tick away when it called for a hurry-up offense to try get back in the game. The same clock mismanagement happened again in this year’s playoffs only this time it was Reid’s Chiefs doing the same against the Patriots.

John Fox (Chicago) has reached the Super Bowl twice in his 14-year head-coaching career but lost each time. Of his 14 seasons, Fox has five losing seasons and has made the playoffs seven times. Edge to Tomlin.

Looking at the coaches that led their teams to Super Bowl 50, Gary Kubiak (Denver) is only five games over .500 (73-68) in his nine seasons as an NFL head coach and has had three losing seasons and making the playoffs only three times. Ron Rivera (Carolina) has had two losing seasons in his five years as an NFL head coach and his favored Carolina Panthers team lost to Denver.

One could certainly make a claim that Pete Carroll (Seattle), John Harbaugh (Baltimore), Sean Payton (New Orleans), and Mike McCarthy (Green Bay) are all comparable coaches to Mike Tomlin. Each has won a Super Bowl like Tomlin but only Tomlin and Carroll have taken their team to two Super Bowls. It is easy to forget that Carroll had two previous head coaching stints with the New York Jets and the New England Patriots. In Carroll’s 10 years as a NFL head coach, he’s had two losing seasons and taken his teams to the playoffs seven times.

Breaking it down further, Payton has had three losing seasons with the Saints in his nine years there. Harbaugh suffered his first losing season in his eight years with the Ravens this past year.

Tomlin’s winning percentage of .639 for nine seasons (92-52) is slightly behind that of McCarthy’s .653 for 10 seasons (104-55-1), and McCarthy has the luxury of coaching against the Bears and Lions twice a year unlike Tomlin facing stiffer competition in the Ravens and Bengals.

The only coach that has a superior coaching record to Tomlin is New England’s Bill Belichick, whose coaching record speaks for itself. Belichick has a record of 223-113 as head coach and more impressively, a 23-10 record in the post-season.

After four losing seasons in five years in Cleveland, Belichick has had only one losing season in 16 with New England and reached the postseason 13 times, and getting to the Super Bowl six times and being victorious on four occasions.

As successful as Belichick has been, even he has made some questionable coaching decisions the past few seasons that were subject to a great deal of second-guessing.

The next time Steeler fans are upset over a coaching decision or an upset loss, look around the NFL. As his record would indicate, there aren’t many coaches out there better than Tomlin.

John Baranowski is a sports historian and contributor to newspapers, sports publications and sports websites.

]]>Tips on How to Get Ripped Body Like NFL Athleteshttp://blitzburghblog.com/2015-archives/tips-on-how-to-get-ripped-body-like-nfl-athletes.html
Sun, 13 Dec 2015 18:03:31 +0000http://blitzburghblog.com/?p=1282Is it your goal to have tight and ripped muscles like those top NFL athletes like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, and many others? Bad news is, it is not easy. But the good news is that it is indeed doable with enough discipline, hard work, and patience. For motivation, here are some of […]]]>

Is it your goal to have tight and ripped muscles like those top NFL athletes like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson, and many others? Bad news is, it is not easy. But the good news is that it is indeed doable with enough discipline, hard work, and patience. For motivation, here are some of the fittest, most ripped, and jacked athletes in the NFL today:

Laron Landry (LSU)

Vernon Davis (Maryland)

Ernie Sims (Florida)

Trent Richardson (Alabama)

James Ihedigbo (Massachusetts)

Adrian Peterson (Oklahoma)

Greg Jones (Florida State)

Adrian Wilson (NC State)

Cornelius Ingram (Florida)

In this article, we will share to you some tips on how you can achieve their good-looking and healthy body complete with ripped muscles. This is also perfect for those who are aspiring to become an NFL player as well. You should start from yourself.

Tip 1: Healthy diet and proper nutrition – any athlete should have healthy eating habits. Your body serves as your engine and if you want it to work properly then you must put the highest quality of “fuel”. It is important to eat foods that are rich in carbohydrates like rice, vegetables, fruits, breads, and others. This is most commonly how the pre-game meal of athletes looks like. It is also important to eat foods that are rich in protein and iron. Avoid fried foods and fatty foods.

Tip 2: Drink healthy supplements – another important aspect of an athlete’s diet program is drinking healthy supplements. Whey is one of the most essential supplements among athletes. It is considered as the “fuel” among big-bodied muscle NFL players and athletes in general. You should also start to include this in your routine. Trusted brands, like Gold Standard Whey, are available at Supps R Us in case you are looking to buy your supply.

Tip 3: Participate in a strength development program – NFL players are the strongest and most powerful athletes in the world. To achieve a body like NFL star then it is advisable for you to undergo rigorous trainings as well. It is best to join strength development program to develop your power, strength, endurance and for you to be faster, stronger, and bigger.

Tip 4: Improve your core – most men want to achieve six or eight-pack abs but not all are willing to work hard for it. You should perform exercise routines that will tighten and improve your core so you can achieve your goal of having “six-pack abs”.

Tip 5: Do running and agility drills – another tip to help you achieve a ripped body like an NFL athlete is to run and develop your agility. Cardio is very important to help you increase your strength especially when lifting heavy weights. Also, doing cardio burn fat.

If you want to achieve a body like a football player, then you must be ready to undergo the same level of training they do. You should know that they are working hard to get ripped body – there is no shortcut and most definitely, there is no magic. Everything relies on hard work and discipline – two things any aspiring athlete should possess.